Stop Yettinahole project or face Bihar-like defeat, Poojary warns Siddaramaiah

MANGALURU: Former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary warned that the Bihar election phenomenon will repeat itself in Karnataka against the Congress government if the Yettinahole project is not stopped.
He told reporters on Monday that the Bihar results are a lesson to all political parties that ignored the sentiments of the people. “Do we actually need Yettinahole project? People in the coastal districts are opposing the project. Those living in parched districts too are opposing it and demanding a permanent solution for drinking water.Chief minister Siddaramaiah is ignoring the sentiments of people for political reasons. Implement a suitable alternative project that will provide permanent water supply to people in parched districts,” Poojary said and warned that the Yettinahole issue will reflect in the elections if not taken seriously.
The veteran Congress leader also lashed at BJP for allegedly politicizing Yettinahole issue. “BJP leaders are politicizing the Yettinahole issue by opposing it only in Dakshina Kannada district. Is there any advantage in holding a protest in Dakshina Kannada? If the BJP has real concern, let their state leaders raise their voices against the project in Bengaluru,” Poojary said.
He urged BJP leaders to send a delegation to New Delhi to solve all inter-state water disputes of Karnataka. “Those BJP leaders, who are fighting for the implementation of Mahadayi and Mekedatu water projects, should discuss the issue with the centre. Let 19 BJP MPs from Karnataka meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek the Centre’s intervention in water disputes between Goa and Tamil Nadu. People of the state are observing all the political developments. They will not tolerate political gimmicks. This fact has been proved in Bihar Assembly election results,” Poojary warned.